Huangming

Chapter 217 The Crisis of Shenyang, Prince Heshuo

Shenyang, situated on the north bank of the Hun River, backed by the treacherous Hun River (Shenshui River) and bordered by the fertile Liaohe Plain, is truly the granary of Liaodong and the lifeline of military supplies.

This strategically important military town, controlling both land and water routes, served as the vital link in the Liaohe and Hunhe river transport networks, continuously supplying the Ming army with provisions and weapons.

It is also the central axis connecting the three strategic strongholds of Liaoyang, Guangning, and Kaiyuan, and can be called the backbone of the Liaodong Regional Military Command's defense system.

As the garrison of Shenyang Zhongwei, its brick and stone city walls housed the most elite border troops, and cannons mounted on the city walls patrolled this strategic location that determined the fate of the Ming Dynasty day and night.

Summer winds carry the unique sand and dust of Liaodong, sweeping across the withered yellow grass on both sides of the official road.

On the distant horizon, a massive, dark army was winding its way in.

That was Tong Zhongkui and Qi Jin, who had just purged traitors from Liaoyang, leading the renowned elite troops from Sichuan and Zhejiang.

Compared to Liaoyang, Shenyang has a stronger atmosphere of war.

Outside the city gate, oxcarts carrying military equipment rolled over the black soil, making a dull creaking sound.

The laborers hurried along carrying sacks of grain, their clothes and armor soaked with sweat.

The air was thick with the smell of rust and gunpowder, and even the Ming Dynasty flags fluttering atop the city walls seemed to be imbued with a chilling atmosphere.

"We've arrived in Shenyang."

Qi Jin reined in his warhorse and looked up at the massive city that stood majestically on the north bank of the Hun River.

The eight city gates resembled the sharp teeth of a giant beast, and the towering arrow towers cast eerie shadows in the twilight.

The numerous fortresses and beacon towers scattered around the city further protected the entire city, making it an impregnable fortress.

Suddenly, the city gates opened, and an old general in light armor strode out to greet them.

His hair and beard were gray, and his armor still bore traces of blood that had not been wiped clean. He was none other than Chen Ce, the commander-in-chief of the troops sent to aid Liaodong and the leader of the Sichuan-Zhejiang army.

"Zhongkui! Shaotang! We've been waiting for you for so long!"

Qi Jin and Tong Zhongkui immediately dismounted, knelt on one knee, and clasped their hands in greeting:
"This humble general pays his respects to the Commander-in-Chief!"

The old general helped the two of them up, his voice hoarse yet resolute:
"The army is temporarily encamped on the south bank of the Hun River. You two come with me to pay our respects to Minister Sun immediately! The Liaodong affairs... cannot wait!"

"As ordered!"

Chen Ce led Qi Jin and Tong Zhongkui through the gates of Shenyang, pointing out the defensive fortifications outside the city as they walked.

This veteran was clearly very familiar with Shenyang's defenses, and his words carried a hint of pride:

"Since General Xiong received His Majesty's support, he has been working to strengthen the defenses of Shenyang. After Minister Sun took office, he further built fortifications and dug deeper trenches—now Shenyang is like an iron hedgehog, making it impossible for the Jurchens to get a foothold!"

He pointed his whip towards the outside of the city and listed them one by one:

"Three large camps outside the city form a pincer formation:"
On the south bank of the Hun River, a large camp was set up with elite troops from Sichuan and Zhejiang, their white-pole spears forming a dense, imposing array.

The cavalry and wolf soldiers stationed at the White Tower Fort outpost moved swiftly, like the wind.

The Shaling Mobile Battalion, equipped with cavalry and chariots, was well-suited for both offense and defense.

He paused, then pointed to the numerous fortresses scattered across the distance and said:

"Seven fortified villages outside the city echo each other:"
Five miles south of the city, the beacon towers of Baitabao soared into the sky, serving as the eyes and ears of the entire army.

Hunhe Fort, a key ferry crossing on the Hunhe River, is where provisions, supplies, and troops all pass through.

The Puhe Fortress to the north of the city keeps a close watch on the direction of Kaiyuan, while the Fengji Fortress to the southeast guards the throat of Liaoyang.

Military supplies were transferred through Hupiyi in the southwest, and mobile reinforcements were dispatched from Shalingbao in the west of the city.

The Jingyuan Fortress in the northwest, with its vast stockpiles of grain and fodder, was considered the lifeline of the entire army.

As Chen Ce spoke, he drew several furrows on the ground with his riding whip: "Between the three camps and seven forts, trenches are connected and bastions face each other, forming three lines of defense:"

The front line of Fupu is strategically positioned and defended, while the middle section of the Hun River controls the waterway, and Baifenghu Fort provides flank support.

"Let alone Jurchen cavalry, even a wild rabbit would have to get past our crossbows before it could sneak in!"

Qi Jin and Tong Zhongkui exchanged a glance, and saw that the banners outside the city were fluttering and the fortifications were very strict.

His previously tense face finally relaxed a bit.

Such an impregnable fortress might truly be able to stop the ferocious Eight Banners soldiers.

The three passed through the heavily guarded gate, and the black lacquered gate of the Liaodong Governor's Office slowly opened before them.

After the halberd-wielding guards verified the talisman, the heavy bolts were removed one by one amidst the clanging of armor.

Upon entering the main hall, a wave of hot, stale air, a mixture of ink, sweat, and gunpowder, hits you.

The hall was filled with the intermingling of people.

A clerk in a green robe hurried along, carrying official documents that rustled in his arms; a messenger knelt on one knee, reporting news from all sides.

The staff argued around the sand table, the charcoal pencils screeching as they drew on the map.

At the heart of this chaotic vortex, Sun Chengzong stood with his back to the gate, pointing at the map behind him.

"This humble general, Chen Ce (Qi Jin, Tong Zhongkui), pays his respects to Your Excellency!"

A deep voice boomed in the hall, and Sun Chengzong turned around abruptly.

The newly appointed Minister of War looks quite different from when he was in the capital.

His bronze-colored face was etched with deep lines, marks left by the wind and sand of Liaodong; his large, calloused hands pressed against the edge of the map, with scabs from healed frostbite still visible on the base of his thumb.

"General Chen's arrival is just in time."

Sun Chengzong's gaze swept over the three of them, lingering on Qi Jin and Tong Zhongkui for a moment before a long-lost smile appeared on his lips: "Shaotang, Zhongkui, how have you been?"

Memories of military discussions in the capital and archery drills at the Western Garden flashed through my mind.

Little did they know that their reunion would take place on the treacherous Liaodong front.

However, reminiscing should wait; for now, the focus should be on military matters in Liaodong.

He looked at the three of them and said:

"Now the Jurchens have made their move. Their chieftain Nurhaci is stationed in Sarxu City, commanding the overall situation from the central army. His four great beile, Daišan, Amin, Mangultai, and Huang Taiji, have arrived at the Kaiyuan-Tieling line and are constantly plundering the people around them, using them as cannon fodder. I estimate that the Jurchens' offensive is imminent."

Over the years, the Ming army had thoroughly figured out the Jurchens' tactics for attacking cities through their battles in Liaodong.

The fact that the Jurchens plundered the people proves that their pre-war preparations were complete and they were about to enter the initial stage of the war.

Knowing this, Qi Jin felt heavy-hearted and quickly asked:

"Minister, what is the strength of our troops?"

孙承宗缓缓说道：“如今沈阳之中，有浙兵6000人，四川石柱土司兵3000人、酉阳土司兵2000人和其他川军部队3000人，湖南保靖土司兵2000人、永顺土兵2000人、广兵3000人（即广东兴宁、长乐之兵，熊廷弼称作狼兵）、河南毛兵1500人及辽东本镇军马10000人，援辽九边军15000人。合计有战兵四万七千人。后勤民夫逾60000人。”

"It seems we have enough troops." Qi Jin felt much relieved upon hearing this.

Sun Chengzong nodded and said, "We have enough troops, but the various units cannot be commanded as one, making them vulnerable to being divided and attacked by the Jurchens. This is exactly what I am worried about."

The Ming army's defeat was not due to a lack of troops.

In fact, during the Battle of Sarxu, the Ming army's strength was not much inferior to that of the Jurchens. The defeat was due to the division of forces.

The Jurchens divided and surrounded several armies, often using forces three or four times larger to annihilate parts of the Ming army, which led to the Ming army's complete lack of resistance in the Battle of Sarxu.

Also.

Even the best strategy is no match for an unyielding ally.

Are the snakes of Changshan really no good?

No.

The Strategic Staff said it perfectly well: if you strike its head, its tail will come; if you strike its tail, its head will come; if you strike its middle, both its head and tail will come.

This is a strategy from Sun Tzu's Art of War.

Is it not good?
Who dares to say it's bad? But your soldiers are not of high quality, and your generals harbor ulterior motives and are determined to preserve their strength. Even if Shenyang is an ironclad fortress, the Jurchens can still pry it open.

Historically, the fall of Tielingwei was largely due to Li Ruzhen's unwavering stance and reluctance to provide support.

"Isn't there a solution?" Qi Jin frowned.

If the various tribes cannot work together, how can we defeat the Jurchens?

Sun Chengzong slowly said, "I have already petitioned Your Majesty to establish the 'Liaodong Military Governor's Office' to take overall control of military power. Anyone who is cowardly in battle or disobeys orders, regardless of rank, will be executed at the gate with the Imperial Sword!"

In fact, that alone is probably not enough.

Reforms need to start from the grassroots level and proceed gradually, but now, time is running out for the Ming Dynasty.

Because the Jurchens have already prepared their troops and are ready to attack at any time.

One hundred and twenty miles away from Shenyang.

A city stands there.

It was Tieling Garrison City.

The city walls were crumbling, bricks and stones were falling off, and charred beams were stuck diagonally in the ruins, like a dissected corpse.

This border fortress fell twice.

The first time, the Jurchens breached the city and looted everything.

Tieling wailed amidst the flames; the city walls were demolished, government offices were burned and looted, leaving only scorched earth.

The second time, they were no longer satisfied with plundering, but wanted to occupy the territory completely.

Today, the red banner of the commander flies on the dilapidated city walls, and Jurchen scouts roam among the broken crenellations.

The former General's Office in the city has now been converted into the vanguard camp of the Prince of the First Rank.

In the lobby.

Daishan sat imposingly on a gilded chair, his armor still bearing the stench of blood.

His face was as red as a date, with a thick beard around his cheeks. He was eight feet tall, with two patches of high-altitude red on his cheekbones. There was a middle-finger-long arrow wound from his left eyebrow to his earlobe, which made him look particularly ferocious.

As the head of the four great princes, Daishan was unusually irritable at this moment.

One reason is that he has been having a lot of bad luck lately.

Last September, Daishan's favoritism towards his second wife, Nara, and his mistreatment of his ex-wife's son, Shuo Tuo, triggered a family crisis.

In February of this year, Daišan completely lost his privileges as crown prince and was reduced to one of the four great Beile, on par with Amin, Mangultai, and Huangtaiji.

Of course, there is also a rumor circulating that Daishan's fall from favor was also related to his ambiguous relationship with the fourth concubine, Abahai, and his misdeeds such as seizing his eldest son Yuetuo's residence.

After all, the Jurchens were barbarians, so it wasn't a big deal for them to play around with young girls.

This event is also recorded in the Yongzheng Emperor's reign.

Having lost his position as crown prince, it's no wonder Daishan was in a good mood.

The second reason is the situation in Shenyang.

In the 47th year of the Wanli reign, the Later Jin dynasty successively captured Kaiyuan and Tieling, sweeping away everything in its path. However, after returning from attacking the Yehe tribe, they found that Shenyang, which was originally easy to conquer, had become a porcupine.

"You mean, the Shanxi merchants and their inside agents... have all been wiped out? And we can't contact a single one of them?"

Dai Shan's brows furrowed suddenly.

Those who know him well know that the more silent this great prince is, the more terrifying his anger becomes.

"Ha, what a bear barbarian!"

He sneered, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Since the uprising began, Shanxi merchants had been secretly colluding and acting as informants to pass on military intelligence, enabling the Jianzhou cavalry to always strike first.

But now that they've reached the outskirts of Shenyang, this tactic has been abruptly cut off!

Li Yongfang stood with his head bowed, a fawning smile plastered on his face, but his tone grew increasingly cautious:

"Your Highness, you are wise. Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong Military Commissioner of the Southern Dynasty, is ruthless, and the newly appointed Sun Chengzong is deeply trusted by the young Emperor Tianqi. He has been building fortifications and digging deep trenches in Liaodong. Now, Shenyang is as impregnable as an iron barrel..."

Dai Shan squinted, his fingertips slowly stroking the hilt of the knife.

"An iron barrel? I, your humble servant, would like to see whether their city walls are stronger or the shields of my Plain Red Banner are stronger!"

Li Yongfang chimed in, "With the Grand Prince taking action, Shenyang will surely fall, just like always."

However, Li Yongfang's flattery backfired spectacularly.

The prince snorted coldly and questioned:
"But why has my unit recently run out of supplies of armor and weapons? Could it be that someone in the rear is following the example of those parasites from Nikan and has embezzled my supplies?"

Dai Shan's gaze was like a knife, coldly piercing Li Yongfang, and he tapped his knuckles heavily on the table.

His eyes clearly said, "If you dare to covet the manhood of my Jianzhou sons, I, the Prince, will skin you alive!"

Li Yongfang's throat tightened, and cold sweat seeped out of her back.

Although he was the first general to surrender to the Later Jin, he was granted the title of "Fushun Efu" and married Abatai's daughter. He was also promoted to the rank of Third-Class General for his meritorious service in attacking Qinghe and Tieling.

But in the eyes of these Aisin Gioro nobles, he was ultimately just a "Nikan dog".

At this moment, Dai Shan's gaze had fixed him on the spot, as if he were about to order him to be dragged out and beheaded at any moment.

"Your Highness is wise!"

He knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling.

"Even if this servant had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare touch even a single piece of armor from the Plain Red Banner!"

"Then why is our army even facing a shortage of military supplies?" Daishan continued to question.

Li Yongfang's eyes darted around, and she quickly said:

"Your Highness, please let this servant explain."

(End of this chapter)